Anchor for embedment in concrete members

ABSTRACT

The present invention is directed towards a lifting anchor for embedment in a concrete member. The anchor comprises a flat bar having a top and bottom; an upper and lower end; and a front and back face. The bar has an aperture near the upper end of the bar for insertion of a locking device that can be attached to a shackle for lifting the concrete wall or element containing the anchor. The bar may have additional apertures for insertion of reinforcing bars. The bar may contain side concave sections. The concave shaped sections allow for reinforcement bars to be positioned within the sections. The bar also contains crescent shaped protrusions. The protrusions extend outwardly from the bar from the front and rear faces of the bar.

[0001] This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/376,747 filed May 1, 2002 which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates towards an erection lift anchor assembly for embedment in a concrete member, such as a precast or tilt-up wall. The erection anchor of the present invention allows for concrete members, such as walls, to be positioned by the use of standard lifting equipment (cranes with cable attachments, etc.) by connecting lifting attachments to the erection lift anchor which is embedded in a concrete member.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0003] The present invention is directed towards a lifting anchor for embedment in a concrete member. The anchor comprises a flat bar having a top and bottom; an upper and lower end; a front and back face and a first and second side. The bar has an aperture near the upper end of the bar for insertion of a locking device that can be attached to a shackle for lifting the concrete wall or element containing the anchor. The bar may have additional apertures for insertion of reinforcing bars. The bar may contain concave sections on the first and second sides. The concave shaped sections allow for reinforcement bars to be positioned within the sections. The bar also contains crescent shaped protrusions. The protrusions extend outwardly from the bar from the front and rear faces of the bar.

[0004] In one embodiment of the invention, the anchor comprises a bar having a top and bottom; an upper and lower end; a front and rear face and a first and second side. The top of the bar has a first apex section, a first upwardly projecting face, a top platform section, a second upwardly projecting face, and a second apex section. The bar has at least one aperture near the upper end of the bar. The bar may contain additional apertures. The lower end of the bar contains at least two concave sections on the first and second sides of the bar. The bar also contains at least two crescent shaped protrusions. The protrusions extend outwardly from the bar from the front and rear faces of the bar. The bottom of the bar has a first protrusion, a first upwardly projecting face, a bottom platform section, a second upwardly projecting face, and a second protrusion.

[0005] In another embodiment of the invention, the anchor comprises a bar having a top and bottom; an upper and lower end; and a front and rear face. The top of the bar has a first rectangular section, a first upwardly projecting face, a top platform section, a second upwardly projecting face, and a second rectangular section. The bar has at least one aperture near the upper end of the bar. The bar may contain additional apertures. The upper end of the bar contains at least two concave sections on the first and second sides of the bar. The lower end of the bar also contains at least two concave sections on the first and second sides of the bar. The bar also contains at least two crescent shaped protrusions. The protrusions extend outwardly from the bar from the front and rear faces of the bar. The lower end of the bar has a foot section. The foot section of the bar contains a first protrusion, a first upwardly projecting face, a foot platform section, a second upwardly projecting face, and a second protrusion.

[0006] When the anchor of the present invention is embedded in a concrete form, the top of the metal bar is positioned adjacent to the face of the concrete form. A void former, suitably made from rubber, is placed around the anchor and covers a portion of the anchor, including the first aperture in the upper end of the anchor. When the concrete is poured around the anchor, the area covered by the void former stays free of concrete, while the rest of the anchor, including the any additional apertures, are encompassed by the concrete. When the concrete form is hardened, the void former is removed and a void recess is formed around a portion of the anchor, allowing lifting hardware to be attached to the anchor, via the aperture in the upper end of the anchor. This allows for a lifting attachment to be suitably connected to the concrete anchor.

[0007] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed description, drawings, and exhibits.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008]FIG. 1 shows a top view of a first embodiment of an anchor of the present invention.

[0009]FIG. 2 shows a front face view of a first embodiment of an anchor of the present invention.

[0010]FIG. 3 shows a side view of a first embodiment of an anchor of the present invention.

[0011]FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of an anchor of the present invention.

[0012]FIG. 5 shows a top view of a second embodiment of an anchor of the present invention.

[0013]FIG. 6 shows a front face view of a second embodiment of an anchor of the present invention.

[0014]FIG. 7 shows a side view of a second embodiment of an anchor of the present invention.

[0015]FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of an anchor of the present invention.

[0016] Before the embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. In addition, it is understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including”, “comprising”, “having” and “has” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items and equivalents thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] The present invention is directed towards a concrete lift anchor. The concrete anchor is suitably made from steel. Anchors of increasing thickness allow for a greater weight capacity to be achieved.

[0018] One embodiment of the concrete anchor of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1-4. The anchor 10 comprises a flat bar 12, preferably made of steel, which has a top 14 and bottom 16; an upper 18 and lower end 20; a front 22 and rear face 24 and a first 23 and second 25 side. The top 14 of the bar 12 has a first rectangular section 30, a first upwardly projecting face 26, a top platform section 28, a second upwardly projecting face 27, and a second rectangular section 31. The bar 12 also has a first aperture 32 near the upper end 18 of the bar. The design of the first rectangular section 30, first upwardly projecting face 26, top platform section 28, second upwardly projecting face 27, second rectangular section 31, and first aperture 32 allows for the secure attachment of a lifting mechanism for moving and positioning a concrete form in which the concrete anchor 10 is embedded. The lifting attachment (such as a hook or other suitable attachment) is suitably connected to the concrete anchor 10 via the first aperture 32. The bar 12 has a second aperture 34 positioned beneath the first aperture 32. The second aperture allows for the insertion of a reinforcing bar. The upper end 18 of the bar contains two side concave sections 36 positioned on the first 23 and second 25 side of the bar 12. The lower end of the bar 20 also contains two side concave sections 38 positioned on the first 23 and second 25 side of the bar 12. The concave shaped sections 36 and 38 allow for reinforcement bars to be positioned within the sections. The bar 12 also contains four crescent shaped protrusions 40. The protrusions 40 extend outwardly from the bar from the front 22 and rear faces 24 of the bar 12. The lower end 20 of the bar 12 has a foot section 42. The foot section 42 of the bar 12 contains a first protrusion 100, a first upwardly projecting face 102, a foot platform section 44, a second upwardly projecting face 104, and a second protrusion 108. The foot 42 acts to resist shearing of the concrete panel from the anchor 10 when the panel is being lifted. The crescent shaped protrusions 40 also act to provide additional shear resistance.

[0019] Another embodiment of the anchor 10 of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 5-8. The anchor 10 comprises a bar 46 having a top 48 and bottom 50; an upper 52 and lower end 54; a front 56 and rear face 58 and a first 55 and second 57 side. The top of the bar 48 has a first apex section 62, a first upwardly projecting face 59, a top platform section 60, a second upwardly projecting face 61, and a second apex section 63. The bar 46 has a first aperture 64 near the upper end of the bar 52. The design of the first apex section 62, first upwardly projecting face 59, top platform section 60, second upwardly projecting face 61, second apex section 63, and first aperture 64 allows for the secure attachment of a lifting mechanism. The bar 46 has a second aperture 66 positioned beneath the first aperture 64. The second aperture allows for the positioning of a reinforcement bar through the aperture. The lower end of the bar 54 contains two concave sections 68 positioned on the first 55 and second 57 sides of the bar 46. The concave shaped sections 68 allow for reinforcement bars to be positioned within the sections. The bar 46 also contains four crescent shaped protrusions 70. The protrusions 70 extend outwardly from the bar from the front 56 and rear 58 faces of the bar. The crescent shaped protrusions 70 act to provide additional shear resistance to the concrete anchor 10. The bottom of the bar 50 has a first protrusion 110, a first upwardly projecting face 112, a bottom platform section 72, a second upwardly projecting face 114, and a second protrusion 116.

[0020] Variations and modifications of the foregoing are within the scope of the present invention. It is understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text and/or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the present invention. The embodiments described herein explain the best modes known for practicing the invention and will enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention. 

1. A concrete anchor comprising: a bar having a top, a bottom, an upper end, a lower end, a first side, a second side, a front face, a back face, a first aperture, a first concave section positioned on the first side of the bar, a second concave section positioned on the second side of the bar, and crescent shaped protrusions which extend outwardly from the front and back faces of the bar.
 2. The concrete anchor of claim 1 wherein the bar has a second aperture.
 3. The concrete anchor of claim 1 wherein the top of the bar further comprises a first apex section, a first upwardly projecting face, a top platform section, a second upwardly projecting face, and a second apex section.
 4. The concrete anchor of claim 1 wherein the top of the bar further comprises a first rectangular section, a first upwardly projecting face, a top platform section, a second upwardly projecting face, and a second rectangular section.
 5. The concrete anchor of claim 1 wherein the bottom of the bar further comprises a first protrusion, a first upwardly projecting face, a bottom platform section, a second upwardly projecting face, and a second protrusion.
 6. The concrete anchor of claim 1 wherein the bottom of the bar further comprises a foot section which comprises a first upwardly projecting face, a foot platform section, a second upwardly projecting face, and a second protrusion.
 7. The concrete anchor of claim 1 wherein the first and second concave sections are positioned on the lower end of the bar.
 8. The concrete anchor of claim 1 wherein the bar further comprises a third concave section positioned on the first side of the upper end of the bar, and a fourth concave section positioned on the second side of the upper end of the bar.
 9. A concrete anchor comprising: a bar having a top, a bottom, an upper end, a lower end, a first side, a second side, a front face, a back face, a first aperture, a first concave section positioned on the first of the bar, a second concave section positioned on the second side of the bar, and crescent shaped protrusions which extend outwardly from the front and back faces of the bar; wherein the top of the bar further comprises a first rectangular section, a first upwardly projecting face, a top platform section, a second upwardly projecting face, and a second rectangular section; and wherein the bottom of the bar further comprises a foot section which comprises a first upwardly projecting face, a foot platform section, a second upwardly projecting face, and a second protrusion.
 10. The concrete anchor of claim 9 wherein the first and second concave sections are positioned on the lower end of the bar.
 11. The concrete anchor of claim 9 wherein the bar further comprises a third concave section positioned on the first side of the upper end of the bar, and a fourth concave section positioned on the second side of the upper end of the bar.
 12. A concrete anchor comprising: a bar having a top, a bottom, an upper end, a lower end, a first side, a second side, a front face, a back face, a first aperture, a first concave section positioned on the first of the bar, a second concave section positioned on the second side of the bar, and crescent shaped protrusions which extend outwardly from the front and back faces of the bar; wherein the top of the bar further comprises a first apex section, a first upwardly projecting face, a top platform section, a second upwardly projecting face, and a second apex section; and wherein the bottom of the bar further comprises a first protrusion, a first upwardly projecting face, a bottom platform section, a second upwardly projecting face, and a second protrusion.
 13. The concrete anchor of claim 12 wherein the first and second concave sections are positioned on the lower end of the bar.
 14. The concrete anchor of claim 12 wherein the bar further comprises a third concave section positioned on the first side of the upper end of the bar, and a fourth concave section positioned on the second side of the upper end of the bar. 